Making light of the fact they probably would have tortured her had my mood shifting but I kept up my quick pace to the truck.
“I would have appreciated a note or maybe a call with some polite questioning instead. Who knows, maybe we all want the same thing?” She sounded so nonchalant.
She was young. She hadn’t lived my life, I reminded myself just the way Dante had a few days prior.
“I don’t get why we all can’t just work something out. Instead, we have to act like a bunch of crazy people with all these ridiculous stipulations and have people break into our property.”
She was on a tangent, grumbling to herself now, but it struck a nerve. “Your food truck was ransacked, Morina,” I growled at her, turning.
She stopped abruptly and my hoodie hung from her shoulders, so big it was half way down her legs, the zipper flapping open in the wind because she hadn’t bothered to zip it up.
She looked a rumpled mess, the same way she’d looked on my jet, and the idea had me bordering on furious.
I tried to keep my sanity with her but I was failing.
They’d have taken her just like this and they’d have been tempted.
They’d have torn apart every shred of innocence and love she had left for this world.
I stalked up to her and grabbed the zipper.
“What… what are you doing?” she squeaked as I pulled it all the way up to her chin.
“Covering you up and keeping you warm.”
“It’s not that cold.”
“Yes, but you’re that exposed.” I didn’t stop at the zipper. I pulled the hood up over her head and tucked some of her hair into it. “You were too exposed in that truck. I can’t have that on me.”
Her eyes narrowed and she searched my face. Her hand came up to it and she smoothed my jaw. “I think my grandma was right about you. You want to do right by everyone.” Then she shook her head and pulled away. “I don’t need you for protection, Bastian. You shouldn’t have the burden of all your father’s wrongdoings on you. My grandma shouldn’t have put my safety on you either.”
Why did her saying that make me actually want to do it? I knew she was right. I knew her life didn’t fall on mine. Yet, in my business, everything fell to me. I had a family that relied on me too.
“Blood and lives had been on my hands since the day I was born.”
No one had ever said they weren’t. For her to do so made me care for her in a way I shouldn’t have. She was a tiny little storm but she could turn into a tsunami for me. I could so easily care for her and I didn’t want that.
We’d started on a beach, sharing a moment. Here we were again, sharing pieces of ourselves we shouldn’t have.
I stepped back. “Let’s just get this ball rolling, huh?”
“Right.” She nodded, her hand dropping to her side. Then, she pointed to the food truck, now just a few feet away. “Well, I can stay here for a few more nights and clean it up.”
“Stay where?” I stared around. She couldn’t really think she was staying in that tin box another night. Not after what happened. I gave her the opportunity to change her mind.
“Well, I need to clean it up and it’ll give me time to–”
“All you’ve been given is time.” The words burst out of me. “You’re not staying there even if I have to drag you to our place today.”
She blinked as her mouth dropped open.
“I swear to God, Morina. I’m not in the business of being told no. I make efficient and reasonable demands for that very reason. I’ve been more than gracious with you.”
“Gracious? You’re asking me to move in with you in a week’s time and then marry you when I don’t know anything about you.”
I dragged my eyes up and down her body. “You know a few things about me.” She’d pushed my buttons and instead of taking the mature route, I pushed hers back.
“Oh, screw you! That was supposed to be a one night stand and now we’re in a once in a lifetime hell together.” She stomped her foot. “I need time.”